Man faces trial in Ferndale sex assault in dressing room

Todd Crawford, 22, of Detroit is charged with third-degree sexual assault, a 15-year felony. He is also charged with two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, each punishable by up to two years in prison.

FERNDALE - A clothing salesman accused of sexually assaulting a girl, 14, in a dressing room is set to be arraigned for trial Monday in Oakland County Circuit Court.

Police said the assault happened in a now-closed clothing shop in Ferndale's downtown back in July 2011, but recent DNA test results allowed them to finally charge the suspect.

"We arrested him right after the incident and he was released pending the issuance of a warrant," said Ferndale Detective Brendan Moore. "When we got all the evidence together we issued the warrant."

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Todd Crawford, 22, of Detroit is charged with third-degree sexual assault, a 15-year felony. He is also charged with two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, each punishable by up to two years in prison.

Crawford is free on $25,000 bond. He was picked up by police Jan. 14 and arraigned on the charges in Ferndale 43rd District Court.

District Judge Joseph Longo ordered Crawford to trial following a preliminary examination hearing Thursday in Ferndale District Court.

Crawford was working as a salesman at a women's boutique in the 200 block of West Nine Mile when he sexually assaulted the underage girl, Moore said.

"She was in the store looking at clothes and he was assisting her," Moore said. "He zipped up a dress for her and at one point went into the dressing room where she was."

The suspect fondled the girl's breast and buttocks and used his hand to perform a sexual act on her private area, police said.

"He asked to have sex with him," Moore said. "She refused and left the store."

The girl went home, told her mother what happened and the mother contacted investigators, police said.

"We brought the suspect in for an interview and he denied it," Moore said.

Crawford is scheduled to be arraigned for trial at 8:30 a.m. Monday before Oakland County Circuit Judge Colleen O'Brien.